physical server -> virtual server using Veeam

[acespod]

Hi all

I have a veeam backup and replication 9.0 setup backing up my wmware setup.

Can i use veeam to turn my physical server into a virtual machine and place it in my wmware setup?

i read somewhere that Disk2VHD can do the job for hyperV - is there an equilivant for wmware?

Kind regards

Kenn Christensen

[MOBO]

here you go
https://www.vmware.com/products/converter.html

[DGrinev]

Hi Kenn and welcome to the community!

Yes, you can do that with Veeam Agent for Windows.
You can perform volume level backup of the physical server and convert it to the disk of the VMDK format during the restore process.
Please review this article in the User Guide for the details. Thanks!

[JuA]

I made this with the first version of Veeam Backup Endpoint (now Veeam Agent for Windows). Just restored my laptop into a VM, it workded fine.

Regards,

Julien

PS : If your vCenter is not v6.5, you can also use the VMware Migration Tool to migrate your existing physical vCenter into a VCSA.

[marius roma]

Can I use Veeam Agent for Windows (either the free and the licensed versions) to convert physical machines to virtual?
I have some Windows Server 2008 R2 boxes and I would like to convert them to VMware VM, but the tools I used in the past don't work.
Is there any documentation about this specific issue?
Regards
marius

[DGrinev]

Hi Mario,

Yes, you can do that by using VAW.
Please read this thread for details. Thanks!

[marius roma]

Many thanks for the quick answer.
To be honest, my problem is a little bit more complex.
The server I need to convert (P2V) is a Windows server 2008 R2 server acting as a Veeam 9.0 B&R server.
The reason because I need to convert it (instrad of migrating) is that I need to minimize the downtime and make the conversion as simple as possible.
The server currently performs backup using Symantec Technologies.
Can I install VAW and start a new backup without uninstalling the Symantec backup (simply stopping it)?
can I convert the VAW backup to a VMDK disk even if the backup is stored on a CIFS share (I have no Veeam B&R server version 9.5 to store my backup)?
What is the best strategy to convert my server to a VM?
By the way, VMware Converter failed performing the conversion.
Regards
marius

[DGrinev]

Can I install VAW and start a new backup without uninstalling the Symantec backup (simply stopping it)?

Yes, you can do that, but don't forget to stop all activities in the Symantec solution, just to be sure a conflict wouldn't appear.

can I convert the VAW backup to a VMDK disk even if the backup is stored on a CIFS share

Yes.

What is the best strategy to convert my server to a VM?

1. Perform volume level backup of the server.
2. Restore the backup and covert it to VMDK.
3. Spin up a VM and attach the virtual disk to it.

There is another simple way to move the backup server without a downtime called Configuration backup and restore.
You can simply create a VM, install VBR from scratch and restore configuration. Thanks!

[eisback]

Hi, what is the best way to restore /convert one physical Windows Server, which was backed up with Veeam Agent 4, to a VMware virtual machine? Can this be done via Backup & Replication or should I better consider to use a tool like VMware Converter? Thanks!

[Maxim Karganov]

Hello, Eisback

Sure, you may use our Instant VM Recovery feature or one of the suggested above workarounds.

Don't hesitate to ask if you have additional questions.